Abel to Yzerman

Oh, just you wait. Just you wait until you read this. Thanks to Jes Golbez for the pointer, and we'll be back to him...oh yes we will. The Oil are retiring Mark Me Messier's number. Glory. Have at it. But, in the process, Oil management has decided to slam the Wings and, by God, The Captain. Via TSN.

"The (pre-game) ceremonies can get long and arduous as they were with Stevie Y (Steve Yzerman)" Oiler president Patrick LaForge told reporters Wednesday. Yzerman's No. 19 jersey was retired Jan. 2 in a 90-minute ceremony prior to the Detroit Red Wings' game against the Anaheim Ducks.
"There was no opportunity for fans there to reach out to Stevie, and we want to do that here and we want to do it with Mark.
"He's a native son and an Edmonton boy and he wants this."

Eat it Pat. So he's an Edmonton boy and he wants this. Well, I'm a Saginaw boy and here's what I want.

For you to kiss my Red and White, Winged Wheeled…..ahhhh, here’s Golbez.

Long and arduous? Don’t they recall Mark Messier’s 9-hour suckfest with the Rangers? If there is anyone who has never reached out to fans, it’s Mark Messier. Try getting an autograph from Mark Messier. You’re more likely to win the Super 7 jackpot.

Go there now. Read the rest at Golbez’ place. Then come on back. I’ve got more to say.

Good. You’re back. Mark Messier, the corporate blue-shaded me-first “captain” who shafted Vancouver and NYR and even his hometown of Edmonton…is a tool. Retire his number. I could care less. But spare me a comparison, however slight—negative or positive—to Yzerman. It’s a disgrace, considering the disparate legacies each has left, that they continue to be mentioned in the same paragraph, sentence, article, topic or publication.

I never disliked Edmonton. I like their fans, love reading their blogs, admire their passion.

About Abel to Yzerman

Welcome to Abel to Yzerman, a Red Wing blog since 1977. No other site on the internet has better-researched, fact-laden and better prepared discussions than A2Y. Re-phrase: we do little research, find facts and stats highly overrated and claim little to no preparation. There are 19 readers of A2Y. No more, no less. All of them, except maybe one, are juvenile in nature. Reminding them of that in the comment section will only encourage them to prove that. Your suggestions and critiques are welcome: wphoulihan@gmail.com